The race – VELUX 5 Oceans

The VELUX 5 Oceans event is a single-handed round-the-world yacht race, which has been held every four years since 1982.

It has a reputation as the longest and toughest event for any individual in any sport.

In 2006, the event gets tougher, the legs between ports even longer. The stopovers are fewer and more compact, with a shorter preparation time between one leg and the next.

By the end of the race, the skippers will have sailed 30,000 miles of ocean solo, facing all the extremes nature can throw at them.

Team Saga Insurance sponsors Sir Robin

Almost 40 years on from Sir Robin’s last round the world race in 1969 which took 312 days, his target for this year’s race is 200 days shorter at 112 days.

Commenting on the sponsorship deal, Andrew Goodsell, Saga Chief Executive, said: "Sir Robin is one of Britain’s greatest adventurers. He embodies the spirit of today’s over 50s who are adventurous and passionate about living life to the full. We are extremely proud and excited to be sponsoring Sir Robin and we wish him every success in the race."

Sir Robin added: “It’s great to have the backing of a brand like Saga Insurance, whose experience of the over 50s means they know we lead exciting and dynamic lives. I am looking forward to taking on this challenge, demonstrating once again that age and experience can win out.”

This year’s VELUX 5 Oceans race began on October 22 and covers three gruelling legs from Bilbao (Spain) to Fremantle (Australia) to Norfolk (USA), before returning to Bilbao.

Along the way sailors may face huge storms, waves of up to 25 metres, sleep deprivation and extreme isolation. Fewer people have achieved this goal than have climbed Mount Everest.